KLM Open returns to Hilversum
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2010 KLM Open | Preview | 09 Sep 2010
Hilversum and the Hilversumche Golf Club play host to the European Tour’s KLM Open this week, the often regular venue being used for the first time since 2005.
Originally designed in the early 1920’s when Harry Colt had a major influence, the course underwent a significant redevelopment by Kyle Philips an American designer in 2008 and the new look golf course, or at least the first phase of it, will used for the first time since as the KLM Open venue.
The tournament features the PGA Champion Martin Kaymer who returns to tournament golf for the first time since his historic and dramatic victory at Whistling Straits. The German may well need a little bit of time to get his feet back on the ground but as the world’s 6th ranked player and the most recent winner of a major championship he will attract a lot of interest.
Francesco Molinari will be keen to replicate the brilliant form shown by his brother Edoardo in recent weeks but he too has performed with distinction this season. He has developed into one of the most consistent players on the European Tour and a continuation of that trend this week is highly likely.
Surprisingly Molinari has won only once on the European Tour and that victory came nearly four years ago but his consistency will soon be rewarded. He played this golf course well five years ago when he was last here and is of course a significantly better player now.
Charl Schwartzel returned to the European Tour last week in Switzerland and did well when he finished 5th behind Jimenez. He played solidly in events in the US without doing anything spectacular but he is a class player and is likely to do very well this week.
Ross Fisher won the Irish Open six weeks ago and although he struggled in his two starts in the US he did much better when he played at Gleneagles two weeks ago.
Louis Oosthuizen has failed in his last two starts in the US but like Fisher he should do much better this week. The Open Champion played well in the two events following his win at St Andrews before he hit the wall in the US. If he can go anywhere near the form he showed at the Open then he is a genuine chance to win again.
Of the Australians Richard green has played only 14 events all season but has done quite well when he has played. At his last event at the Irish Open he finished 5th. Green finished runner-up to David Lynn on this golf course in 2004.
Other Australasians in the field are; Brett Rumford, Michael Campbell, Andrew Dodt, Scott Strange, Danny Lee, Mark Brown and Rick Kulacz.
